Almost three page excerpt from Antoine-Simon Le Page Du Pratz's work "Historie de la Louisiane in Nathaniel Ames' "An Astronomical Diary or Almanack For the Year of Our Lord Christ 1769"
Printed and sold by The Printers and Booksellers: Boston, (1768). Item #99-3443
6 x 4", printed sewn wraps, (24pp). Heavily toned, outer wraps soiled, rear wrap torn along spine about 4" from bottom, creased corners, scattered spotting, some chipping and edge tears, occasional contemporary ink note. Ames' excerpt which he calls an "Indian Story" writes that "Monsieur du Pratz, in his History of Louisiana relates that a quarrel having arisen between the French and the Natchez, one of the principal Nations on the Banks of the Mississippi River...a War of course ensued...lasted only four days...peace formally concluded...short time after the French fell upon them unawares in the Night...making a great slaughter among them..." The majority of two pages is a first person account by a member of the Natchez nation of the mistreatment of them by the French. LePage Du Pratz arrived in Louisiana from France in 1718, he lived there until 1734, long after his return to France he wrote "Histoire" which was notable for writing down the conversations he had with the native populace in their own words. Published first in 1758 in French, then in English in 1763. SCARCE title, scarce contemporary excerpt. Only five of the 1758 edit. Online, $2750-$5750. LePage du Pratz 1695-1755.
Price: $195.00